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Santa Barbara Committed

CADA and Santa Barbara Fighting Back are launching a new campaign, called Santa Barbara Committed, to engage the entire community in supporting teens to stay alcohol and drug free. As a parent, you can join the campaign by pledging to make your home a safe place where alcohol is not served at parties where teens are present. Click here to take the pledge.

The Most Important
Conversation You Can Have

Does it surprise you to know that parents are the most powerful influence in a child’s life — greater than peers, popular music, television, celebrities and the media?

Kids who consistently learn about the risks of drugs from their parents are 50% less likely to use drugs and alcohol than those who do not.

Talking to your kids about the risks of drugs and alcohol isn’t as hard as you think. There are some great web sites that provide free, easy to use tools and tips to help you have ongoing conversations with your kids to keep them healthy and drug-free.

Start the Talk is an interactive tool to help you learn the do’s and don’ts of talking to your kids about underage drinking. Using avatars, you’ll practice bringing up the topic of alcohol with a teen; learn what questions to ask; and get ideas for keeping the conversation going long after the initial talk has ended.

The Parent Toolkit provides easy-to-use guides and tips to help parents and others who work with youth start and maintain open, honest dialogue and help them talk with kids about the risks of drugs and alcohol. Developed by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.

The Partnership at Drugfree.org provides the latest news and research, information on the risks and effects of specific drugs, how to combat prescription drug abuse, and more tips on talking to teens about alcohol and drugs.

The Power of Parents: MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) has created a powerful new web resource where parents can find various strategies for preventing underage drinking at home and in their community. It a place for parents to ask questions and get answers from various experts in underage drinking prevention.

Too Smart to Start, a website developed by SAMHSA, offers a section for families, educators and community members on how they can help prevent the underage use of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs.

The blog site, Intervene, is an online community of parents concerned about their teens' alcohol and drug use.

Why Teens Use Drugs and Alcohol

Today's teens are in a very different environment – with pressures, technology and priorities vastly changed – from when you were a teenager. Click here to find out some of the most common situations in which teens drink and use drugs – and what you can do about it.

They say that “the only thing permanent in life is change,” and that may very well be true. But just because change is natural, that doesn’t make it any easier – especially for teens. Studies show that adolescents who haven’t tried drugs or alcohol are more likely to start during times of transition in order to cope with stress. But don’t worry – while change is a part of life, risky behavior, like drug and alcohol use, doesn’t have to be. Transitions & Teens: A Guide for Parents has everything you need to know to help keep your child healthy – and even happy! – during transition periods like changing schools, parental divorce, or moving to a new home.

Marijuana and
The Developing Brain

The adolescent brain is particularly vulnerable to the effects of marijuana (and alcohol) as it is in a period of strong developmental growth. Using brain scans, researchers have found abnormalities in areas of the brain that interconnect brain regions involved in memory, attention, decision-making, language and executive functioning skills. These effects can be mild or severe, depending on how long a person used, how much use occurred, what other substances were used, and how vulnerable a particular brain is. Don't wait! Talk to your kids about marijuana use before it's too late.

Santa Barbara Committed

CADA and Santa Barbara Fighting Back are launching a new campaign, called Santa Barbara Committed, to engage the entire community in supporting teens to stay alcohol and drug free. As a parent, you can join the campaign by pledging to make your home a safe place where alcohol is not served at parties where teens are present. Click here to take the pledge.

The Most Important
Conversation You Can Have

Does it surprise you to know that parents are the most powerful influence in a child’s life — greater than peers, popular music, television, celebrities and the media?

Kids who consistently learn about the risks of drugs from their parents are 50% less likely to use drugs and alcohol than those who do not.

Talking to your kids about the risks of drugs and alcohol isn’t as hard as you think. There are some great web sites that provide free, easy to use tools and tips to help you have ongoing conversations with your kids to keep them healthy and drug-free.

Start the Talk is an interactive tool to help you learn the do’s and don’ts of talking to your kids about underage drinking. Using avatars, you’ll practice bringing up the topic of alcohol with a teen; learn what questions to ask; and get ideas for keeping the conversation going long after the initial talk has ended.

The Parent Toolkit provides easy-to-use guides and tips to help parents and others who work with youth start and maintain open, honest dialogue and help them talk with kids about the risks of drugs and alcohol. Developed by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.

The Partnership at Drugfree.org provides the latest news and research, information on the risks and effects of specific drugs, how to combat prescription drug abuse, and more tips on talking to teens about alcohol and drugs.

The Power of Parents: MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) has created a powerful new web resource where parents can find various strategies for preventing underage drinking at home and in their community. It a place for parents to ask questions and get answers from various experts in underage drinking prevention.

Too Smart to Start, a website developed by SAMHSA, offers a section for families, educators and community members on how they can help prevent the underage use of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs.

The blog site, Intervene, is an online community of parents concerned about their teens' alcohol and drug use.

Why Teens Use Drugs and Alcohol

Today's teens are in a very different environment – with pressures, technology and priorities vastly changed – from when you were a teenager. Click here to find out some of the most common situations in which teens drink and use drugs – and what you can do about it.

They say that “the only thing permanent in life is change,” and that may very well be true. But just because change is natural, that doesn’t make it any easier – especially for teens. Studies show that adolescents who haven’t tried drugs or alcohol are more likely to start during times of transition in order to cope with stress. But don’t worry – while change is a part of life, risky behavior, like drug and alcohol use, doesn’t have to be. Transitions & Teens: A Guide for Parents has everything you need to know to help keep your child healthy – and even happy! – during transition periods like changing schools, parental divorce, or moving to a new home.

Marijuana and
The Developing Brain

The adolescent brain is particularly vulnerable to the effects of marijuana (and alcohol) as it is in a period of strong developmental growth. Using brain scans, researchers have found abnormalities in areas of the brain that interconnect brain regions involved in memory, attention, decision-making, language and executive functioning skills. These effects can be mild or severe, depending on how long a person used, how much use occurred, what other substances were used, and how vulnerable a particular brain is. Don't wait! Talk to your kids about marijuana use before it's too late.

CADA's Resources
for Parents

SUPER Family Education Program: The SUPER (Substance Use Prevention Education Resource) Program brings youth and their parents together for a series of four family education classes that reduce youth drug use, build positive family relationships and improve communication. >READ MORE

The Fighting Back Parent Program: Based on the award-winning Parent Project curriculum, this six-session series of classes is designed specifically for parents who are facing behavioral challenges with teens. >READ MORE

Prevention Education Presentations: To schedule a prevention education presentation on the latest research on underage drinking, marijuana, and other drugs for your parent group or organization, please contact Lino Celio at 805-963-1433.

Drug Testing and Assessments:

Are you concerned your son or daughter may be using alcohol or other drugs? We offer walk-in drug testing (one or seven different drugs) on Fridays, from 1:00–5:00 PM at our treatment center (25 W. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara) and assessment if the parent feels there is a need for treatment (805-730-7575).

CADA's Resources
for Parents

SUPER Family Education Program: The SUPER (Substance Use Prevention Education Resource) Program brings youth and their parents together for a series of four family education classes that reduce youth drug use, build positive family relationships and improve communication. >READ MORE

The Fighting Back Parent Program: Based on the award-winning Parent Project curriculum, this six-session series of classes is designed specifically for parents who are facing behavioral challenges with teens. >READ MORE

Prevention Education Presentations: To schedule a prevention education presentation on the latest research on underage drinking, marijuana, and other drugs for your parent group or organization, please contact Lino Celio at 805-963-1433.

Drug Testing and Assessments:

Are you concerned your son or daughter may be using alcohol or other drugs? We offer walk-in drug testing (one or seven different drugs) on Fridays, from 1:00–5:00 PM at our treatment center (25 W. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara) and assessment if the parent feels there is a need for treatment (805-730-7575).

By these myths about your kids and drugs.

Of course my kid has cash, a car, a credit card, a cell phone and a computer – so, what’s the big deal?

Passed off as common wisdom, these drugs myths justify, excuse or ignore bad behavior and leave the door open for teen substance abuse. Click here to view a rundown of the most common drug myths and learn the truth behind them.

Don't Be Fooled . . .

By these myths about your kids and drugs.

My kid and his buddies having a beer on the weekends is no big deal.

They're just experimenting.

The safest place for kids to drink is at home.

I would know if my kids were using.

Of course my kid has cash, a car, a credit card, a cell phone and a computer – so, what’s the big deal?

Passed off as common wisdom, these drugs myths justify, excuse or ignore bad behavior and leave the door open for teen substance abuse. Click here to view a rundown of the most common drug myths and learn the truth behind them.